Clutch mechanism.



UNITED STATES PATE-NEI* OFFICE..

.FLORENCE C. IBIGGEB'I, ZIB.,-

.PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG'NOB. T0 UNITED ENGINEERING & IEOUITIIRY4 COMPANY, 0F EITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A COB- PORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

CLUTCH Mncrmivrsm.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the,

saine; and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the magnet rod or plunger.

My invention has relation to clutch mechanism, and has been more particularly designed to provide mechanism of this character designed for use in connection with inachines, such as shearing machines,` which have an intermittent operation, although it may be used for a variety of other purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide clutch mechanism of simple character, in which the clutch can be thrown into operationkat the proper time with the expenditure of but very little power.

In accordancer with my invention, I providemeans, preferably a spring, for throwing the clutch into operation, and cam means for throwing the clutch out of operation, the spring or other means for throwing in the clutch being normally prevented from operation by an electro-magnetically controlled latch or locking device.

The precise nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawin in which I have shown one form thereo and which will now be described, it being premised, however, that various changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention asdefined in the appended claims.

In these drawings, the., numeral 2' designates an intermittently driven shaft, which may form part of any machine to .be operated such as a shear. Loosely mounted on this shaft is a wheel 3, in the present instance a gear wheel, which is constantly driven from any suitable source. Fixed to one face of this wheel and rotating therewith loosely upon' the shaft 2, is a clutch member-4. 5 is a coperating clutch member having a hub portion 6 having a groove formed with a Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application iled May 12,

'Patented May 1v, i910.

isos. serial No. 432,373.

cam wall 7. y The clutch member 5 is keyed tothe shaft y2 to be rotated therewith butto be longitudinally movable thereon into and out of engagement with the clutch member 4. Secured to the end portion of the shaft 2, and projecting longitudinally therefrom, is a rod or bolt 8 having a washer 9 at its outer end portion and around which is seated a coil spring or springs 10, which exert a pressure against the outer end of the clutch member 5 in a` direction to tend to hold the two clutch members 4 and 5 in clutch engagement with each other. Pivoted to the frame 11 ofthe machine at the point 12, is a lever 13 having one counterweighted arm 14. The other depending arm of this lever engages the groove in the hub ortion 6 of the clutch member 5, and is designed to contact with andwbeG actuated by the cam wall7 of such groove. n

Pivoted at 13 to the lower portion of the depending arm of the lever 13 are two is counterweighted at one end as indicated y at 20, and its opposite end portion is engaged by the pin 16, with a nose 21 projecting into enga ement with a vertical slot 22 in a rod or p unger 23. The upper end of this rod or plunger extends within and forms the core of the solenoid magnet 24, while its lower end portion is provided with a suitable guide 2 5.

The operation is as follows z-With the parts in the position shown i-n Fig.`1, the relation of the three centers 13, 16 and 18 is such that the bars 15 are locked against endwise movement by the latch member 1,7, the pin 'or center 16 being Vforced slightly below the line of the centers 13 and 18.'

Therefore, as" the clutch section 5 revolves withthe clutch section 4, the engagement `until such time as the magnet 24 is ener-v gized. l/Vhen this occurs the rod or plunf ger 23 lwill be suddenly drawn upward thereby moving the latch member 17 suiiciently to raise the center 16 above the center '18. This releases the lock for the lever 13, and the spring 10 immediately throws the parts to'the posit-ion shown in dotted lines in F ig. l and moves the clutchmember 5 into engagement with the clutch member 4. The lever 13, bars 15 and latch members 17, then return to their locking positions by their un.

balanced weight, so that after the wheel 3 has made one complete revolution the cam 'wall 7 will act to again retract the clutch may be made in the construction and arfrangement of the parts. Thus various forms of latch and locking devices may be used, which will be capable of being released by the action of the magnet; the arrangementy of the magnet may itself be changed, and.

any suitable'solenoid or armature operative connection maybe employed for releasing the latch member.

l. -In clutch mechanism, the combination of two lcoperating* clutch members, one of which is movable lnto and out of clutching engagement with/'the other member, a spring for normally forcing said member 4 into clutching engagement7 said movable member having a cam, a lever having a member arranged to be engaged by said cam, a sec- .ond lever, a link connecting the levers and arranged to lock the cam-engaging member in rigid relation to the cam, and means for releasing the locking levers to permit the movable clutch member to be moved into clutching engagement; substantially as described.

' 2. In clutch mechanism, the combination `of two coperating clutch members, one of which is movable into and out of clutching engagement with the other, means for forcing said member into clutching engagement,-

sald movable member having a cam, a member arranged to be engaged by sald cam, means'to shift the cam engaging member 1n line of movement of the movable clutch member to shift the movable clutch member out of engagement with `the other clutch member, and means for locking the cam engaging member in its shifted position; substantially as described. 1

3. In'clutch mechanism, the combination of two cqperating clutch members, 'one of which 1s movable into and out of clutching engagement with the other member, means for forcing'said member into clutching en- .71 gagement, said movable member having a cam, a leverpivoted so as'to 'swing in line with the axis of the clutch members and arranged to be engaged by said cam, a pair of toggle levers pivoted to each other, one of the-toggle levers being pivoted, to a stationary member, the other toggle lever being connected to the cam engaging lever and arranged to move said lever, and means to move the toggle levers into and out of locking relation to each other; substantially as described. Y

4. In clutch mechanism, the combination of two coperating clutch members, one of which is movable into and out -of clutch en- 85 gagement with the other member, means for orcing said member intov clutching engagement, a lever arranged to swing in line w1th the axis of the clutch members, cam means on the movable clutch member arranged to engage said lever to retract said member, locking means for holdingthe -lever in position to eifect such' retraction, and electro'- magnetic means for releasing the locking device; substantially as described.

5. In clutch mechanism, the combination of two coperating clutch members, one of which is movable into and out-of clutching engagement with the 4other member, the movable member having a hub portion pro- Videdwith a cam surface, a -lever movable along the axis of the clutch members and arranged to be engaged by said cam surface to effect the retraction of said member, a latch device connected to said lever and arranged to normally hold the same in position to retract and hold the movableclutch member in retracted position, an electromagnet, and means o erated thereby for releasing the latch memloer; substantially as 110 described. y A

6. In clutch mechanism the combination of two coperatin clutch members, one of, which is movable mto and out of clutching engagement with the other member, means for forcing said member into clutching engagement, said movable member having a cam, a member arranged to be engaged by said cam, means to shift the cam engaging member in line of movement ofthe movable clutch member to shift the movable clutch member from engagement with the other clutch member, meansr to lock the cam en gaging member in its shifted position, and electro-mechanically controlled means for releasing the locking means; substantiallyas described. A

7. In clutch mechanism, .the combination of twocoperatin clutch members, one of whichis movable into and out of clutching for forcing said member into clutching engagement, said movable member having a cam, a lever pivoted so as to swing in line with the axis of the clutch members and ar ranged to be engaged by said cam, a locking device for said lever having a toggle joint,v

means to move the locking device into position to lock the cam engaging lever in rigid relation to the cam, and means for moving the-locking device to break the toggle joint thereof to allow the clutch members to engage each other; substantially as described.

8. In chute mechanism, the combination of two cooperating clutch members, one of which is movable into and out of clutching engagement with the other member, means for forcing said member into clutching engagement, said movable member havin(r a cam, a lever pivoted so as to swing in ine Withthe axis of the clutch members and ar- Velectro-magnetically controlled means to move the toggle levers out of parallel relation toaillow the clutch members to engz'lge each other; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

FLORENCE C. BIGGERT, JR.

f Witnesses:

H. M. CoRWIN, GEO. H. PARMELEE.

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 958,710.

It. is hereby certied that in Letters Patent No. 958,710, granted May 17, 1910, upon the application of Florence C. Biggert, Jr., of Pittsburg., Penhsylvania, for an improvement in Clutch Mechanism errors appear in theprnted specification requiring correction'as follows: Page 2, line 130, after the word clutching the words engagement with the other wwmber, mmm should be inserted; and page 3,

line 13, the word' chute should read clutch; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the use in the Patent Oce.'

Signed and sealed this 14th day of June, D., 1910.

C. C. BILLINGS, Acting Commissioner qf Patents.

[SEAL] 

